Improvement in wool-driers



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. MOORE.. Wool-Dryers.

No. Y191,487.-

Patented Nov. 27; |877.`

jaw/@far NJETERSl PNOTO-).ITMOGHAPNERy WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK MOORE, OF TROWBRIDGE, ENGLAND.

IMPROVEMENT lNMWOOL-DRIERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,487, dated November27, 1877; application led August 24, 1877.

Y Toall whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK MOORE, of Trowbridge, in the county ofWilts, England, dyer, have invented certain Improved Machinery forDrying and BumblingWool; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof', that will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this speeiiication.

The object of this invention is to dry wool after it has undergone thewashing or` dyeing process, and this I eiiect in a more expeditious waythan can vbe eected by any plan now in use.

My improvements consist, chietiy, in combining the bumbling and dryingapparatus, so as to perform the two operations simultaneously, by whichmeans the wool is freed from any dust that may be left therein afterwashing or dyeing, so that by one operation the wool is rendered t formanufacture without going through any further dusting process.

In the accompanying drawing, the machine is represented in sectionalelevation at Figure 1, and in side elevation at Fig. 2.

The machine consists of a suitable framework, paneled with sheet-iron,so as to form a close box or chamber. The lower part of the box orchamber is fitted with an arrangement of steam or hot-water pipes, B B,or other heating apparatus, for raising and maintaining a hightemperature within the box. The box is also furnished with two rows ofmetal rollers, C C', and upon these rollers the wool is placed whenintroduced into the machine. On the shafts of these rollers are wheelsworking in a worm, D, causing the rollers to revolve, the worm receivingits motion from the biunble-shaft L by means of bevel-gearing 5 or otherways of driving the rollers may be readily adopted. A space is left atthe end of the machine for the bumbling wheel or cylinder F, which is ofa diameter to suit thedepth from the top of the upper row of rollers tothe bottom of the lower one.

Traveling aprons maybe used instead of the rollers C C', if desired.

The operation is as follows: On commencing to feed the wet wool to themachine, the oper-` l through which 11e throws in a quantity of wool,

which is carried forward by the lower set of rollers C, steam havingfirst been admitted to the heating apparatus, and the machine set in lmotion by means of the driving-pulley L2, re-

ceiving motion from any suitable prime motor. The pulley L2 is mountedon thebunibling wheel shaft L, carrying at its other end a pulley, L',which communicates motion to the pulley l, mounted on one end of acounter-shaft arranged on top of the machine. This counter-shaft Ncarries also a pulley, m', which communicates motion to the pulley m ontheV fan-shaft to operate the fan M. On the other end of the shaftNabevel-wheeLD, is mounted, gearing with a bevel-pinion, d, mounted onthe upper end of a vertical spindle, D2, which has its bearings inbrackets on the side of the machine, as shown in Fig. 2. The verticalspindle also carries two bevel-pinions, d1 d2, meshing with similarpinions d3, mounted on the outer ends ofthe worms D, which serve toimpart motion to the upper and lower series of carrying-rolls by meansofthe pinions c,- mounted on their axes. In this manner the whole of themechanism is set in motion from the bumbling-wheel shaft L.

The quantity of wool thrown in is carried forward by the lower row ofrollers until it reaches the bumble, which takes and throws it onto thetop of the upper row of rollers, by whichit is carried back to thefeeding end, and drops down onto the inclined plate I, and thence to thelower row of rollers. The operator continues to throw in wet wool untilthe portion iirst thrown in has traversed the machine and commencestofall down from the top row of rollers onto the inclined plate I. Hethen closes the door E, and allows the circulation of the wool tocontinueruntil it is thoroughly cleaned and dried. The door It is thenopened, and it will be readily seen that the bumble F, instead of takingup the wool and throwing it onto the top row of rollers, will drive itout at the open door into a receptacle placed ready for it. The bumbleF, being provided with iron teeth, opens the wool, and by its actionfrees it from any dye or other dust remaining therein.

The further to assist the drying process, an exhaust-fan, M, isconnected with the top of the machine, for the vpurpose ofcarrying .offthe vapor arising from the wool by reason of the high temperature towhich it is subjected. Fresh air is supplied at the lower part of themachine in corresponding quantity through openings N', and becomesheated by passing over the steam-pipes B, or other heating mediumalready referred to. rlhe fan N, while exhausting the damp air, isprevented from drawing out the wool by means of a screen or grate, G.Doors P and P1, at the bottom of the box, allow of the dust beingperiodically removed therefrom.

It must be understood that one of the peculiar advantages of thismachine is, that from the time the wool is introduced into thedrying-chamber of the apparatus until it is discharged, it is keptcontinually in motion, the bumble F continually taking the wool from thelower set of rollers or apron and throwing it onto the top set ofrollers or apron, thereby agitating or disturbing it, so as to allow theheat to penetrate through the whole mass without baking the wool ordrying the surface of it only, as is the case when the wool simply liesat rest over a heated surface. This improved drying apparatusconsequently obvi- `ates the difiiculty of getting heat through themass, and at thesame time clears the wool of any dust and dirt that mayremain therein.

1. In a combined wool drying and bumbling` machine, the combination ofthe casing l1aving doors E R, the screens I P2 G, air-inlets N, and anexhaust-fan and heating apparatus located within said casing, thebumbling-wheel, and two superposed series of carrying-rolls, allconstructed and operatin g to carry the wool continuously from oneseries of rollers to the other,1subjecting the wool at each rotation tothe action of the bumbling-wheel until thoroughly cleansed and dried,substantially as described, lfor the 'purpose specified.

2. The combination of the casing and the screens I P2 with thecarrying-rolls and the bumbling-wheel, substantially as described, forthe purpose specified.

3. The combination of thebumbling-wheel, the carrying-rolls, and theexhaust-fan with the pulleys L Z, counter-shaft N, pulleys m m,bevel-wheel Dl, spindle D2, pinions d d] d2 d3, worms I), and pinions c,all constructed and yoperating substantially as described, for thepurpose specified.

Y 4. The combination of the casing, the screens I P2, the heatingapparatus, the bumblingwheel, the carrying-rolls G C', and an exhaustfan provided with a perforated screen, G, all constructed and operatingsubstantially as described, for the purpose specified.

y In testimony that I claim the/foregoing' I have hereunto set my handand seal.

FREDERICK MOORE. Witnesses:

WM. WHITELEY, J. W. TAsKEn.

